Page 16 of Jacob Michaels is Dead

“Ya’ know,” Jackson said, “I should really be mad at you and Esther Jean right now, Carlita—”

“Yeah?”

“—but I just can’t bring myself to be mad. Y’all did your best, I suppose.”

Carlita gave him a warm smile.

“Well, we’ll see what the dawn brings before we claim it to be our best, shall we?”

He nodded, a smile coming to his lips.

The ground shook again, making all three of them step back as the crack in the street widened a few more inches.

“It’s been nice knowing you fellas,” Carlita said. “Just in case I don’t get to tell you both later.”

“Back atcha.” Jackson croaked.

Andrew merely groaned.

The man in the black hooded cloak knew how to get his way. Promises and threats, torture if those methods did not produce results. Killing those who opposed him was a last resort, but one he gleefully indulged in whenever the mood struck. When the pack—only seven when they arrived—showed up in Point Worth, the man in the black hooded cloak saw his opportunity.

Add to his growing army.

Though he was unable to negotiate for himself, The Council met with the pack alpha. Offered them their greatest desires. The only price was allegiance to Bloody Bones.

The alpha responded swiftly. Courageously. For his pack was few in numbers compared to The Council.

Allegiance would be given to no one but his own.

No matter the offer.

His pack answered to themselves and the greater good.

The Council’s answer was just as swift. At the behest of the man in the black hooded cloak, The Council, much greater in number than the new pack, quickly slaughtered six of the new wolves. The youngest, barely a teen, fled, a few cuts and bruises the only memory of the pack to which he once belonged.

Laughing and braying, the Council screamed at Andrew as he ran, announcing their plans to find those that would serve…him. If he wouldn’t serve, he had no place with them. He was too young for The Council to expend any worry. If other packs wouldn’t join…they’d make their own.

Andrew ran as fast and as far as he could.

He would never join The Council.

Or the man in the black hooded cloak.

But, if the time should come, that someone stood against either, he would answer the call to service.

Even if it meant his own death.

He vowed vengeance.

All he had to do was wait for a sign of hope.

And, when hope arrived, it arrived as a little old lady and a drag queen who were most definitely more than they seemed.

They offered nothing for Andrew’s allegiance except hope. But hope is the greatest payment one can receive. So, Andrew pledged his allegiance. All he had to do for his payment, was lie.

“I’m sorry that I hurt Rob,” Andrew stated blandly as he stood beside Carlita and Jackson on Main Street. “It is the only thing I regret.”

“I know, baby,” Carlita said. “But we’ve all done what we could. What we had to do. To end all of…”